Resources

Participatory Planning, a Citizens' HandbookAuthor: Swati RamanathanThe book written for citizens of Bangalore is a sort of ready–reckoner that explains urban services, their costs, the policy history and current status, and the various agencies and experts involved in each service delivery, along with basic details like contact information. Citizens, NGOs and administrations in other cities too would find it a useful and good example of an educational resource to enhance governance processes. For more information contact:Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy4th Floor, UNI Building, Thimmaiah Road,Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore 560052Ph: 080–41277102; Fax: 080–41277104E-mail: info@janaagraha.orgWebsite: www.janaagraha.org

A Case for Reform: How Municipal Budgets can Change our CitiesAuthor: Dr Ravikant JoshiThis manual seeks to demystify the existing system of municipal budgeting in India and will be of interest to all groups participating in the formulation or monitoring of urban policy. It addresses issues that are of concern to members of the development community, bureaucrats, planner and policy makers and elected local representatives. It is also targeted at ordinary citizens who wish to understand the prevailing system o f municipal finance. A detailed analysis of the finance and budget structures of municipal bodies with specific case studies is the highlight of this manual.The sections on the relevance of budgets as tools of effective governance, indicators of the financial health and potential of our cities and how budgets can be used to increase our participation in democratic processes.

Journal of Human DevelopmentA Multi-disciplinary Journal for People-Centered Development

This is a peer-reviewed journal launched in January 2000 to provide new perspectives on challenges of human development and poverty eradication – human well being, markets, growth, social justice and human rights. Development means more than economic growth, so the journal is also about improving the well being of people and expanding the choices and opportunities they have. Development policies cut across economic, social and political issues. The Journal publishes original work in economics, philosophy, social sciences and other disciplines that expands concepts, measurement tools and policy alternatives. Human development is becoming a “school of thought” for alternative economic approaches and the journal aims to act as a conduit for members and critics of this school.

For more information visit:http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/carfax/14649888.htmlE–mail: CElsolh@aol.com

LogoLink LogoLink is a global network of practitioners from civil society organisations, research institutions and governments. The network aims to deepen democracy through greater citizen participation in local governance. LogoLink encourages learning from field-based innovations and expressions of democracy which contribute to social justice.

The LogoLink Coordination Unit is based within the Participation Group at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK. LogoLink's Coordination Unit works closely with partners in different regions of the world, including theSociety forParticipatory Research in Asia (PRIA), in India.

Several papers, case studies, manuals on participatory governance are available on the LogoLink website. For India, useful readings are PRIA's four policy papers under the 'Citizens' Participation in Local Urban Bodies' Policy Paper series assess the policy implications for the areas of Central Finance, Planning, Rural Development and UrbanDevelopment.http://www.ids.ac.uk/logolink/index.htm

Education for Change is the ENVIS publication of the Centre for Environment Education, India. EfC seeks to share views and experiences of education for sustainability.
EfC is supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, under its ENVIS programme.(http://www.envis.nic.in/)